But in little over a year, Woods has returned to the highest echelons of his sport and has become front-page news once again. Woods — the old master of Augusta — is back, and few are as elated as Williams, who said she is "inspired" by the golfer's return.

"I am literally in tears watching Tiger Woods," Williams tweeted on Sunday. "This is greatness like no other. Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today? Congrats a million times! I am so inspired thank you buddy."

Williams herself is enjoying a comeback in tennis.

Like Woods, Williams is seen as one of the greatest players of all time in her chosen sport.

In 2017 she took time off from tennis for the birth of her daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. She returned to tennis after "almost" dying from giving birth and, like Woods, is determined to win a major in her comeback.

She came close in 2018 when she reached the final of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships and the 2018 US Open but was knocked out at the very last stage of the competitions by Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka, respectively.

Williams withdrew from the recent Miami Open because of injury, but is expected to challenge for the upcoming majors at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

Woods, meanwhile, will likely be one of the favorites at golf's remaining majors of the year — the PGA Championship, the US Open, and The Open Championship.